. >>> the government is sounding the alarm about something that affects millions of openeder americans, reverse mortgages. abc learns has learned that there is a growing concern over these and federal government may be taking action. >> this is the agreement. >> the family home, dream and nest egg for jim and linda mcmahon until it had to be sold to pay a reverse mortgaged as soon as her husband died. >> i get a letter. sorry to hear about your husband passing away. >> it's an immediate cash payment in exchange for future equity. but only people 62 and older qualify. linda was too young to be on the mortgage. so when her older husband died she lost everything. it's only one danger inherent in the reverse mortgage. >> critics say the tv commercials prey to vulnerable senior seniors and they are warning it's not free money. >> they are not being told about the downside. >> right now in america, 57,000 seniors in reverse mortgages are in danger of losing their homes. nearly 10% forecast rate, four times higher than traditional mortgages. the department of housing and you urban development